SAFETY CONTAINER FOR SCORIA, PARTICULARLY IN DEVICES FOR DESTROYING MEDICAL INSTRUMENTS SUCH AS HYPODERMIC NEEDLES, SCALPELS AND THE LIKE

Abstract: The safety container for scoria in devices for destroying medical instruments such as hypodermic needles, scalpels and the like, has an outer cylindrical body (2) and an inner cylindrical body (3) that can be mutually coupled so as to form a container body (1). The outer cylindrical body (2) has an outer opening (20) and the inner cylindrical body (3) has an inner opening (21) which can be arranged, by turning the cylindrical bodies (2, 3), so that the openings (20, 21) are mutually aligned when the container (1) is in its active position and so that the openings (20, 21) are mutually opposite when the container (1) is in a closed position. There are also temporary locking portions (30) that act between the cylindrical bodies (2, 3) in their active position and stable locking device (25, 60) that act between the cylindrical bodies (2, 3) in their closed position.

Description: SAFETY CONTAINER FOR SCORIA, PARTICULARLY IN DEVICES FOR DESTROYING MEDICAL INSTRUMENTS SUCH AS HYPODERMIC NEEDLES, SCALPELS AND THE LIKE Technical Field The present invention relates to a safety container for scoria, particularly in devices for destroying medical instruments such as hypodermic needles, scalpels and the like. As it is known, devices are already commercially available that eliminate metal medical instruments, such as for example hypodermic needles, scalpels and the like, by means of an electric arc that melts the metal parts which are thus eliminated. The fused metal scoria is generally collected in a tray located inside the destruction device below the melting region. In currently commercially available solutions, however, there are no particular precautions and safeguards for the disposal of this scoria, which may still contain contaminants. The use of the conventional tray, which must be emptied when full, is an inefficient solution from the point of view of safety, as the operator can come into contact with the scoria. Disclosure of the Invention The aim of the invention is indeed to solve the problems described above by providing a safety container for scoria particularly in devices for destroying medical instruments such as hypodermic needles, scalpels and the like, that can be removed, once filled with scoria, without allowing the operator to come into contact with said scoria. Within the scope of the above aim, a particular object of the invention is to provide a safety container that can be applied very quickly and simply to the device and may be connected to elements that externally indicate that the container is full of scoria or that it is otherwise necessary to replace said container. Another object of the present invention is to provide a safety container of the throwaway single-use type that allows to keep the scoria in a limited and closed space, thus avoiding the possibility of accidental external contaminations. Another object of the present invention is to provide a safety container for scoria particularly in devices for destroying medical instruments such as hypodermic needles, scalpels and the like, which by virtue of its particular constructive characteristics is capable of giving the greatest assurances of reliability and safety in use. This aim, these objects and others which will become apparent hereinafter are achieved by a safety container for scoria particularly in devices for destroying medical instruments such as hypodermic needles, scalpels and the like, according to the invention, characterized in that it comprises an outer cylindrical body and an inner cylindrical body that can be mutually coupled so as to form a container body, said outer cylindrical body having an outer opening and said inner cylindrical body having an inner opening, said inner and outer openings being arrangeable, by means of the mutual rotation of said cylindrical bodies, so that the openings are mutually aligned when said container is in its active position and so that the openings are mutually opposite when said container is in closed position; there being also temporary locking means that act between said cylindrical bodies in their active position and stable locking means that act between said cylindrical bodies in their closed position. Brief description of the drawings Further characteristics and advantages will become apparent from the description of a preferred but not exclusive embodiment of a safety container for scoria particularly in devices for destroying medical instruments such as hypodermic needles, scalpels and the like, illustrated only by way of non-limitative example in the accompanying drawings, wherein: figure 1 is a schematic view of a device for destroying medical instruments to which the safety scoria container according to the invention has been applied; figure 2 is a schematic perspective view of the scoria container in extracted position with respect to the device; figure 3 is a view of the scoria container in closed position, after it has been used; figure 4 is an exploded perspective view of the safety scoria container; figure 5 is a front view of the scoria container during its application to the destruction device; figure 6 is a sectional view, taken along the plane VI- VI of figure 8; figure 7 is a sectional view, taken along the plane VII-VII of figure 9; figure 8 is a sectional view, taken along the plane VIII-V II of figure 6; and figure 9 is a sectional view, taken along the plane IX- IX of figure 7. Ways of carrying out the invention With reference to the above figures, the safety container for scoria, particularly in devices for destroying medical instruments such as hypodermic needles, scalpels and the like, according to the invention, which is generally designated by the reference numeral 1, comprises an outer cylindrical body 2 and an inner cylindrical body 3 that can be mutually coupled so as to give the container body 1 a cylindrical shape. The container body 1 can be inserted at an opening 4 that is formed on a device 5 for destroying medical instruments such as hypodermic needles, scalpels and the like, below the region where the possibly infected medical instruments are destroyed, generally by means of an electric arc. The container body 1 is coupled by means of two protrusions 6 that are provided diametrically on the inner cylindrical body 1 and are spaced from the edge flange 7 formed by the cylindrical container, so as to form a space or gap for coupling to the front plate 8 of said device 5. In order to allow insertion, the opening 4 has corresponding diametrical notches 10 that allow the insertion of the protrusions 6 and the locking, by rotation, of the container body 1 on said front plate. Advantageously, in order to adjust the position, on the rear end of the outer cylindrical body 2 there is an axial raised portion 15 that extends from the center, covering a radial extent, and fits in a corresponding triangular slot 16 that is formed on a rear supporting plate 17 provided inside the device. The slot covers a quarter of the circumference, so as to lock the container 1 on the device by means of a rotation through 90° which is clockwise with reference to the described example. The outer cylindrical body 2 has an outer opening 20 that covers a portion that is less than half of its circumference; an inner opening 21 is similarly provided on the inner cylindrical body. The openings 20 and 21 can be arranged so that they are mutually aligned when the container is in its active position, whereas they can be arranged mutually opposite when the container is in closed position, i.e. when the container is filled with scoria and must be removed. The inner cylindrical body 3 can be coupled to the outer cylindrical body 2 by axial insertion, and this coupling is made stable by virtue of the presence of a tooth 25 that protrudes from the front edge of the opening 21 and is provided, in an upward region, with an inclined plane 25a that allows coupling and prevents extraction by virtue of the presence of an abutment ridge 25b which, by engaging the corresponding edge of the outer opening 20, prevents the axial extraction of the inner cylindrical body 3 from the outer cylindrical body 2. The container has means for the temporary locking of the cylindrical bodies in open position. Said removable locking means are constituted by an axial raised portion 30 that is formed by the inner cylindrical body 3 and couples in a corresponding axial recess 31 formed on the inner surface of the outer cylindrical body 2 to allow the mutual positioning of the cylindrical bodies 2 and 3 so that their respective openings 20 and 21 are aligned. The axial recess 31 advantageously has inclined longitudinal edges 32 that allow mutual disengagement by slightly forcing and allow to rotate the inner cylindrical body 3 inside the outer cylindrical body 2. It should also be added that inside the cylindrical body 3 there is a covering panel 40 that lies substantially along half of a circumference and is kept in position by means of axial ridges 4 which are provided inside the cylindrical body and also have the purpose of keeping the panel 40, which is made of metal, spaced from the walls of the container to avoid damage to the walls due to the hot scoria that falls inside the container. Furthermore, advantageously there are metal end plates, designated by the reference numerals 42 and 43, that are correspondingly provided at the rear of the inner cylindrical body 3 and of the outer cylindrical body 2. It is furthermore possible to provide means for detecting the level of the scoria, constituted by rods 50 that protrude from the bottom end of the outer cylindrical body and can close an electric circuit when the level of the scoria is such as to electrically connect the rods 50. Said rods 50 are connected to outer pins 51 that can be connected to the electrical detection contacts and move in corresponding slots 53 formed on the supporting plate 17 and therefore also act as rotation locking elements for the correct positioning of the container. It should also be noted that the level detection systems can be provided by means of an electronic count of the medical instruments that have been destroyed, or by means of sensors that detect the medical instruments that 5 are inserted in the device and indicate that the container is full when a preset number is reached, or possibly by means of a system for the electromagnet detection of the level of the scoria. Furthermore, the pins 51 can also act as elements for 10 activating the operation of the machine by acting on microswitches 55, shown in figure 5, when the container is inserted in the medical instrument destruction device and is correctly positioned. The container furthermore comprises stable locking 1 5 means that act between the inner cylindrical body 3 and the outer cylindrical body 2 when the bodies 2 and 3 are in closed position. Said means are constituted by a locking hole 60 formed on the outer cylindrical body 2 in which the tooth 25 fits with a snap-together action, forming an 2 o element for blocking the subsequent rotation of the inner cylindrical body with respect to the cylindrical body 2, together with the insertion of the axial ridge 30 in a longitudinal locking recess 61 which is located diametrically with respect to the recess 31. 25 In practical operation, the container is inserted in open position, i.e. so that the openings 20 and 21 are mutually aligned, by inserting the protrusions 6 in the notches 10 of the opening 4 and by turning until the axial raised portion 15, by abutting against the edge of the slot 3016, stops the rotation. In these conditions, the device for destroying medical instruments can operate and the scoria is introduced in the container until the preset scoria level is reached or until electronic devices indicate that the container must be 5 replaced. At this point, by using the radial grip tabs 70 provided on the outer end plate of the inner cylindrical body 3, the cylindrical body 3 is rotated with respect to the cylindrical body 2, overcoming the contrast provided by 0 the temporary locking means constituted by the ridge 30 and by the associated recess 31, and rotation is performed until the tooth 25 enters, with a snap-together action, in the locking hole 60, closing the container and preventing any further mutual rotation of the inner cylindrical body with 5 respect to the outer cylindrical body of the container. In these conditions, the container is closed and can be removed from the medical instrument destruction device by turning through 90° in the opposite direction, until the protrusions 6 are rearranged at the notches 10, thereby o allowing extraction of the container. When the container is removed from the device, it is in closed position and consequently, the operator cannot come into contact with the scoria and the container can be disposed of in an appropriate landfill. 5 From what has been described above it is thus evident that the invention achieves the intended aim and objects, and particularly the fact is stressed that a container is provided which is structured so that it can be closed automatically when it must be removed from the device, preventing accidental contacts with the scoria. - The container can furthermore be connected to automatic means that indicate that the container is full and, for example, interrupt the operation of the device until the container has been replaced. The invention thus conceived is susceptible to numerous modifications and variations, all of which are within the scope of the inventive concept. ' All the details may furthermore be replaced with other technically equivalent elements. in practice, the materials employed, as well as the contingent shapes and dimensions, may be any according to the requirements.

Claims: CLAIMS 1. Safety container for scoria particularly in devices for destroying medical instruments such as hypodermic needles, scalpels and the like, characterized in that it comprises an outer cylindrical body and an inner cylindrical body that can be mutually coupled so as to form a container body, said outer cylindrical body having an outer opening and said inner cylindrical body having an inner opening, said inner and outer openings being arrangeable, by means of the mutual rotation of said cylindrical bodies, so that the openings are mutually aligned when said container is in its active position and so that the openings are mutually opposite when said container is in closed position; there being also temporary locking means that act between said cylindrical bodies in their active position and stable locking means that act between said cylindrical bodies in their closed position. 2. Container according to claim 1, characterized in that said inner cylindrical body has protrusions that are located diametrically and are spaced from an edge flange so as to form a space or gap for the coupling of said container body to the front plate of the destruction device. 3. Container according to the preceding claims, characterized in that it comprises, on the outer rear end of said outer cylindrical body, at least one axial raised portion that extends from the center along a radial portion and is suitable to fit in a triangular slot formed on a rear supporting plate provided inside the destruction device, said slot being suitable to act as element for limiting the rotation of said container body. 4. Container according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that it comprises a tooth that protrudes from the front edge of the opening of said inner cylindrical body and is provided, in an upward region, with an inclined plane that acts as guide for the insertion of said inner cylindrical body in said outer cylindrical body, said tooth having an abutment ridge that can engage the corresponding edge of the inner opening to prevent the disengagement of said inner cylindrical body from said outer cylindrical body. 5. Container according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said means for temporarily locking said cylindrical bodies in active position comprise an axial protrusion that is formed on said inner cylindrical body and is suitable to couple in an axial recess correspondingly formed on the inner surface of said cylindrical body. 6. Container according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said axial recess has inclined longitudinal edges. 7. Container according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that it comprises, inside said inner cylindrical body, a covering panel that covers substantially half of a circumference and is retained in position by axial ridges provided inside said inner cylindrical body, said ridges being suitable to act as spacer to prevent direct contact between said panel and the wall of said inner cylindrical body. 8. Container according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that it comprises metal end plates provided at the inner end of said inner cylindrical body and of said outer cylindrical body. 9. Container according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that it comprises means for detecting the level of the scoria in said container body, said means being constituted by rods that protrude from the bottom of said inner cylindrical body and extend inside said cylindrical body. 10. Container according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that it comprises outer pins which are connected to said rods and can be accommodated in corresponding slots formed on said supporting plate, said slots being suitable to act as stroke limiter for the rotation of said container body. 11. Container according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said pins are suitable to interact with microswitches provided at said slots to allow the activation of the medical instrument destruction device. 12. Container according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said stable locking means that interact between said inner cylindrical body and said outer cylindrical body are constituted by a locking hole which is formed by said outer cylindrical body and is suitable to couple to said tooth, a longitudinal locking recess being furthermore provided in which it is possible to accommodate said axial raised portion.

Inventors: PIVA MARIA TERESA, PIVA, MARIA, TERESA
Applicants: PIVA MARIA TERESA, PIVA, MARIA, TERESA
Application year: 1994
Main classification: A61M5
IPC codes: A61B19, A61M5, B09B3